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Ocean currents shape Jupiter-moon Europa's icy shell in ways critical for potential habitats

In a finding of relevance to the search for life in our solar system, researchers have shown the subsurface ocean on Jupiter's moon Europa may have deep currents and circulation patterns with heat and energy transfers capable of sustaining biological life. The findings are based on numerical models accounting for the formation of the chaos terrains, one of Europa's most prominent surface features.

Technology could lead to more reliable renewable energy systems

Renewable energy sources such as wind-powered generators can be more reliable and efficient by better controlling the process of getting electricity onto the power grid, according to new research.

London 2012 Velodrome: The role of simulation in the design process

Whilst stadia preparations for the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, and 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar come under intense scrutiny, we look back at how the 2012 Summer Olympics in London got it right – by incorporating simulation into the design process of the highly acclaimed velodrome.

Biologist develops method for monitoring shipping noise in dolphin habitat

A biologist has developed a system of techniques for tracking ships and monitoring underwater noise levels in a protected marine mammal habitat. The research focused on the bottlenose dolphin population in Scotland's Moray Firth.

Tongue-drive wheelchair works better than sip-and-puff system

After a diving accident left Jason DiSanto paralyzed from the neck down in 2009, he had to learn how to navigate life from a powered wheelchair, which he controls with a sip-and-puff system. Users sip or puff air into a straw mounted on their wheelchair to execute four basic commands that drive the chair. But results from a new clinical study offer hope that sip-and-puff users like DiSanto could gain a higher level of independence than offered by this common assistive technology. Researchers found that people with tetraplegia can maneuver a wheelchair better with the Tongue Drive System than with the sip-and-puff system.

Unlikely collaboration leads to discovery of 'gender-bending' plant

Biologists have discovered and described a new species of wild eggplant, found in Australia's Lost City. The plant is curiously described as "gender bending," coming from the fact that the females actually pretend to be male by producing pollen.

Beetles that live with ants: A remarkably large and colorful new species from Guyane

The Pseudomorphini Tribe of the Family Carabidae is a group of extraordinary beetles reported to live with ants in the soil and in the rainforest canopy. Mostly dull colored and relatively small, scientists discovered the first species in the Western Hemisphere to astonish with great size and beautiful color pattern, more typical for representatives from Australia.

Optimizing carbon nanotube arrays for use in hot spots

Experimental evidence and computer simulations suggest how to grow structures with the best trade offs between three desired characteristics: strength, flexibility and the ability to dissipate heat.

Studies: Moral outrage may influence jurors

Two new studies point to important legal implications when moral outrage is generated through the interactive effect of anger and disgust. Research points to the need for judges to carefully consider the admissibility of evidence likely to elicit moral outrage in jurors in a world where phone and security cameras increasingly catch horrible crimes on camera and therefore may be entered as evidence.

Alzheimer's risk gene may begin to affect brains in childhood, research shows

People who carry a high-risk gene for Alzheimer's disease show changes in their brains beginning in childhood, decades before the illness appears, new research suggests.

Fear of being single leads people to settle for less

Fear of being single is a meaningful predictor of settling for less in relationships among both men and women, a study has found.

1950s pandemic influenza virus remains a health threat, particularly to those under 50

Scientists have evidence that descendants of the H2N2 avian influenza A virus that killed millions worldwide in the 1950s still pose a threat to human health, particularly to those under 50.

Biology professor finds 'Goldilocks' effect in snail populations

A researcher has discovered that a "Goldilocks" effect applies to the reproductive output of a tiny New Zealand snail -- considered a troublesome species in many countries -- that may one day help environmentalists control their spread.

Obesity, smoking increase risk after immediate breast reconstruction with implants

New research findings confirm that factors such as smoking and obesity increase the odds of early implant loss in women who undergo mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction with implants.

Himalayan flowers shed light on climate change

Flower color in some parts of the world, including the Himalayas, has evolved to attract bees as pollinators, research has shown for the first time.

Do sports concussions really cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy?

It's been widely reported that football and other contact sports increase the risk of a debilitating neurological condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). But a new study finds little evidence to support such a link.

Domestication of dogs may have elaborated on a pre-existing capacity of wolves to learn from humans

Wolves can learn from observing humans and pack members where food is hidden and recognize when humans only pretend to hide food, reports a new study.

Gene therapy bolsters enzyme activity to combat Alzheimer's disease in mice

Scientists have identified an enzyme that can halt or possibly even reverse the build-up of toxic protein fragments known as plaques in the brains of mice with Alzheimer's disease.

'Spooky action' builds a wormhole between 'entangled' quantum particles

New research indicates a phenomenon known as "quantum entanglement" might be intrinsically linked with wormholes, hypothetical features of space-time that could link one part of the universe with another.

Manufacturing new gut to treat GI diseases

Researchers grow extensive numbers of intestinal stem cells, then coax them to develop into different types of mature intestinal cells.

Researchers revise Darwin's thinking on invasive species

Rebutting Charles Darwin, researchers say the relatedness of native and introduced species is not as important as the details of how they go about doing their business. The model they've developed in analyzing Darwin's "naturalization conundrum" could lead to a new way of gauging the potential of invasive species, a major ecological and economic concern as plants and animals have spread into new habitats around the planet.

Biological interactions make some malaria parasites specific to host species

Researchers have discovered why the parasite that causes the deadliest form of malaria only infects humans.

How bacteria respond so quickly to external changes

Understanding how bacteria adapt so quickly to changes in their external environment with continued high growth rates is one of the major research challenges in molecular microbiology. This is important not least for our understanding of resistance to antibiotics. A research study is now presenting a model of how bacteria can rapidly adapt to environmental changes through smart regulation of their gene expression.

Don't ignore hip pain: Impingement a growing problem among young, active

Hip pain is no longer reserved for older adults. More and more young, active people are developing this problem, which often requires surgery to repair.

Silent stalkers of dark ocean waters: Killer whales hunt marine mammals at night in near total darkness

The mating roar of a male harbor seal is supposed to attract a partner, not a predator. Unfortunately for the seals, scientists have found evidence that marine-mammal-eating killer whales eavesdrop on their prey. Previous research had shown mammal-eating killer whales are nearly silent before making a kill, neither vocalizing nor using their echolocation. The likely reason, researchers say, is the excellent hearing of the seals, porpoises, and other animals the whales stalk.

Signalers vs. strong silent types: Sparrows exude personalities during fights

Some song sparrows are more effusive than others in defending territory. New findings show consistent individual differences not only for how aggressive individual song sparrows are but also for how much they use signals to communicate aggressive intentions.

Expedition yields unexpected clues to ocean mysteries

Geoscientists have revealed new discoveries about Earth's development, following a major international expedition that recovered the first-ever drill core from the lower crust of the Pacific Ocean.

Antarctic fjords are climate-sensitive hotspots of diversity in a rapidly warming region

In the first significant study of seafloor communities in the glacier-dominated fjords along the west Antarctic Peninsula, scientists expected to find an impoverished seafloor highly disturbed by glacial sedimentation, similar to what has been documented in well-studied Arctic regions. Instead, they found high levels of diversity and abundance in megafauna. The difference can be explained by the fact that the subpolar Antarctic is in an earlier stage of climate warming than the Arctic.

Many patients have trouble identifying their medications

People who identified their medication by shape, size or color instead of name had poorer adherence and an increased risk of hospitalization, finds a recent study.

Arctic study shows key marine food web species at risk from increasing carbon dioxide

A research expedition to the Arctic, as part of the Catlin Arctic Survey, has revealed that tiny crustaceans, known as copepods, that live just beneath the ocean surface are likely to battle for survival if ocean acidity continues to rise. The study found that copepods that move large distances, migrating vertically across a wide range of pH conditions, have a better chance of surviving.

Sounding tall: Listeners can distinguish the voices of tall versus short people

Our voice can reveal a lot about us: our age, our gender, and now – it seems – our height as well. A new study found that listeners can accurately determine the relative heights of speakers just by listening to them talk. The key clue may be contained in a particular type of sound produced in the lower airways of the lungs, known as a subglottal resonance.

Five distinct humpback whale populations identified in North Pacific

The first comprehensive genetic study of humpback whale populations in the North Pacific Ocean has identified five distinct populations -- at the same time a proposal to designate North Pacific humpbacks as a single "distinct population segment" is being considered under the Endangered Species Act.

How to change cell types by flipping a single switch

With few exceptions, cells don't change type once they have become specialized -- a heart cell, for example, won't suddenly become a brain cell. However, new findings have identified a method for changing one cell type into another in a process called forced transdifferentiation.

Dads: How important are they?

Even with today's technology, it still takes both a male and a female to make a baby. But is it important for both parents to raise that child? Many studies have outlined the value of a mother, but few have clearly defined the importance of a father, until now. New findings show that the absence of a father during critical growth periods, leads to impaired social and behavioral abilities in adults.

First global snapshot of key coral reef fishes: Fishing has reduced vital seaweed eaters by more than 50 percent

Biologists have reported on the impact of fishing on a group of fish known to protect the health of coral reefs. The report offers key data for setting management and conservation targets to protect and preserve fragile coral reefs.

Explosive growth of young star

A star is formed when a large cloud of gas and dust condenses and eventually becomes so dense that it collapses into a ball of gas, where the pressure heats the matter, creating a glowing gas ball -- a star is born. New research shows that a young, newly formed star in the Milky Way had such an explosive growth, that it was initially about 100 times brighter than it is now.

Ocean crust could store many centuries of industrial carbon dioxide

Researchers have identified regions beneath the oceans where the igneous rocks of the upper ocean crust could safely store very large volumes of carbon dioxide. The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas has led to dramatically increasing concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere causing climate change and ocean acidification. Although technologies are being developed to capture CO2 at major sources such as power stations, this will only avoid further warming if that CO2 is then safely locked away from the atmosphere for centuries.

Fruit pest targeted by genomic research

Genome sequencing of the spotted wing drosophila, a major fruit pest, is expected to accelerate basic and applied research, leading to better monitoring and control strategies for the insect.

Harlequin ladybugs escape enemies while native species succumb

The astonishing success of the alien invasive harlequin ladybird (ladybug) in Britain has given a team of scientists a unique opportunity to investigate a key ecological theory – the Enemy Release Hypothesis.

Rapid climate changes at end of last glaciation, but with 120 year time lag

Regional climate changes can be very rapid. Geoscientists now report that such a rapid climate change occurred in different regions with a time difference of 120 years. Investigation in the west German Eifel region and in southern Norway demonstrated that at the end of the last glaciation about 12,240 years before present climate became warmer, first recognized in the Eifel region and 120 years later in southern Norway. Nonetheless, the warming was equally rapid in both regions.

Depression in pregnant mothers may alter the pattern of brain development in their babies

Depression is a serious mental illness that has many negative consequences for sufferers. But depression among pregnant women may also have an impact on their developing babies. Children of depressed parents are at an increased risk of developing depression themselves, a combination of both genetic and environmental factors. These children also display alterations in the amygdala, a brain structure important for the regulation of emotion and stress.

Amoeboid swimming: Crawling in a fluid

Researchers have developed a particularly simple model that reproduces the swimming mechanism of amoebas. They show that, by changing shape, these single cell organisms propel themselves forward in a viscous fluid at the same speed as when they crawl on a solid substrate. The way microorganisms swim is fundamentally different to that of fish since, at their scale, viscosity effects dominate and make fins totally inefficient.

Intense two-color double X-ray laser pulses: Powerful tool to study ultrafast processes

Scientists have generated ultra-bright, two-color X-ray laser pulses for the first time in the hard X-ray region. These light pulses with different wavelengths, whose time separation can be adjusted with attosecond accuracy, are very powerful tools to investigate the structure of matter and the dynamics of ultrafast physical processes and chemical reactions.

Highly insulating windows are very energy efficient, though expensive

Highly insulating triple-pane windows keep a house snug and cozy, but it takes two decades or more for the windows to pay off financially based on utility-bill savings.

Working Odd Shifts Can Hurt Parent-Child Relationships

Research shows that working a job that doesn't keep 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours can hurt the relationships between parents and adolescents, increasing the likelihood that children will engage in delinquent behaviors. However, the researchers found that in some circumstances, an unconventional work schedule can be a benefit for children.

New method for stabilizing hemoglobin could lead to stable vaccines, artificial blood

A research team has found a way to stabilize hemoglobin, the oxygen carrier protein in the blood, a discovery that could lead to the development of stable vaccines and affordable artificial blood substitutes.

More extreme weather events likely: Climate projections of unparalleled accuracy for the whole of Europe

Scientists have analyzed climate projections for the whole of Europe at an unprecedented resolution of 12 km, by downscaling the global simulations carried out for the 5th IPCC report. These simulations for the 21st century now provide a much more detailed representation of local phenomena and extreme events. Initial analyses confirm that there will be a significant increase in the frequency of extreme events, such as heavy rainfall, heatwaves and droughts.

The promise of nanotechnology

If the promise of nanotechnology is to be fulfilled, then research programs must leapfrog to new nanomanufacturing processes. That's the conclusion of a review of the current state of nanoscience and nanotechnology.

Study on pediatric brain stem tumors

A new study has found, for the first time, two distinct subtypes in pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas.

Development near Oregon, Washington public forests

Private development along the edges of most public forests in Oregon and Washington more than doubled since the 1970s, a new study has found.

Screeners miss the really rare stuff: Commonly found objects may be crowding out identification of the unusual items

A smartphone app that turns gamers into airport baggage screeners is showing that finding weapons and other illegal items isn't all that easy, even when you're looking for them.

While the Arctic Ocean is largely a carbon sink, parts are also a source of atmospheric carbon dioxide

While the Arctic Ocean is largely a carbon sink, researchers find parts are also a source of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The Arctic Ocean as a whole seems to be storing more carbon than in previous years but the increase in the carbon sink may not be as large as scientists had previously thought.

Fossils clarify the origins of wasps and their kin: Alderfly ancestors, snakefly cousins

The insect order Hymenoptera -- wasps, bees, ants and relatives -- is the third most diverse animal group, but its origin remains controversial. Fossils from Permian beds of Russia demonstrate that the wasp lineage is not as ancient as held before, and is related to alderflies and snakeflies. The wasp and snakefly ancestors were very small, indicating that these lineages have passed through a "miniaturization bottleneck."

Turning waste into power with bacteria and loofahs

Loofahs, best known for their use in exfoliating skin to soft, radiant perfection, have emerged as a new potential tool to advance sustainability efforts on two fronts at the same time: energy and waste. A new study describes the pairing of loofahs with bacteria to create a power-generating microbial fuel cell.

Important discovery related to anxiety disorders, trauma

A team of researchers discovered that the protein PC7 plays a critical role in the brain by affecting certain types of cognitive performance such as anxiety, learning and emotional memory. Their results could have a significant impact on regulating behavior related to anxiety disorders and trauma.

Education, not fertility, key for economic development in developing countries

A new study shows that improvements in education levels around the world have been key drivers of economic growth in developing countries that has previously been attributed to declines in fertility rates.

Virtual wall could stop spread of oil and help build invisible barrier for oil spills

A new technique forms a virtual wall for oily liquids that will help confine them to a certain area, aiding researchers who are studying these complex molecules. This development will have future implications in the guided delivery of oil and effective blockage of oil spreading.

Friendly app attacks detect vulnerabilities

Hacking programs disguised as games are helping Apple to improve the security of devices operating on its iOS platform.

Light finds the right mix: Quickly switching orientation of a laser beam enables control over quantum properties of light

Classical computers process data as a series of ones and zeros known as bits; in contrast, quantum computers encode information into the physical properties of an information unit known as a quantum bit, or qubit. Two or more qubits are then able to link together to speed up the processing efficiency, enabling quantum computers to tackle mathematical problems beyond the capability of conventional machines. However, reliably creating the precise multiple qubits required for quantum-computer protocols remains a challenge.

Silkworms spin colored silks while on a 'green' dyed-leaf diet

For some 5,000 years, cultivated silkworms have been spinning luxurious white silk fibers destined for use in the finest clothing. But current dyeing practices produce wastewater that contains potentially harmful toxins, so scientists are turning to a new, "greener" dyeing method in which they coax already-colored fibers from the caterpillars by feeding them dyed leaves.

Scientists unearth secrets of Périgord truffles, the culinary 'black diamond'

Just in time for the holidays when cooks in France and elsewhere will be slipping bits of the coveted black Périgord truffle under their turkeys' skin for a luxurious flavor, scientists are revealing the secrets that give the culinary world's "black diamond" its unique, pungent aroma. Their study could lead to better ways to determine the freshness and authenticity of the pricey delicacy.

Neurofeedback tunes key brain networks, improving well-being in PTSD

Pioneering research points to a promising avenue for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: utilizing neurofeedback training to alter the plasticity of brain networks linked to the condition. During neurofeedback, intentional control of one's own brain activity may be learned with what's called a brain-computer interface, which is able to represent graphically a person's real-time brain activation on a computer.

The first decade: Team reports on US trials of bioenergy grasses

The first long-term US field trials of Miscanthus x giganteus, a towering perennial grass used in bioenergy production, reveal that its exceptional yields, though reduced somewhat after five years of growth, are still more than twice those of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), another perennial grass used as a bioenergy feedstock. Miscanthus grown in Illinois also outperforms even the high yields found in earlier studies of the crop in Europe, the researchers found.

First evidence of primates regularly sleeping in caves

Scientists have discovered that some ring-tailed lemurs in Madagascar regularly retire to limestone chambers for their nightly snoozes, the first evidence of the consistent, daily use of the same caves and crevices for sleeping among the world's wild primates.

Mysteries of Earth's radiation belts uncovered by NASA twin spacecraft

Just over a year since launch, NASA's Van Allen Probes mission continues to unravel longstanding mysteries of Earth's high-energy radiation belts that encircle our planet and pose hazards to orbiting satellites and astronauts.

Multiple mates worth the risk for female prairie dogs

Mating with more than one male increases reproductive success for female prairie dogs, despite an increase in risks such as increased susceptibility to predation and increased exposure to diseases and parasites. So why would a female prairie dog take the risk? The answer is simple: female prairie dogs that mate with two or more males rear more offspring than those that mate with only one.

Oldest hominin DNA sequenced: Mitochondrial genome of a 400,000-year-old hominin from Spain decoded

Using novel techniques to extract and study ancient DNA researchers have determined an almost complete mitochondrial genome sequence of a 400,000-year-old representative of the genus Homo from Sima de los Huesos, a unique cave site in Northern Spain, and found that it is related to the mitochondrial genome of Denisovans, extinct relatives of Neandertals in Asia. DNA this old has until recently been retrieved only from the permafrost.

Data on people's self-reported 'experienced' well-being could help inform policies

Gathering survey data on "experienced" well-being – the self-reported levels of contentment, joy, stress, frustration, and other feelings people experience throughout the day and while engaged in various activities -- would be valuable to inform policies, says a new report.

Can ipads help students learn science? Yes.

A new study shows that students grasp the unimaginable emptiness of space more effectively when they use iPads to explore 3-D simulations of the universe, compared to traditional classroom instruction.

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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

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